​With a mobile phone as the number one travel accessory, the hospitality industry is turning to location mobile technology like geofencing to create 1-to-1 personalized guest experiences.
 
For travelers, their data is currency that they’re willing to barter in exchange for a streamlined travel experience. A survey by BTN found that 79% of business travelers found it “valuable” or “very valuable” that a mobile booking tool knows their identity, company, loyalty status and what they like.
 
Geofencing can help hotels tailor onsite services using not just guest profiles or travel history, but also with contextual data, such as how guests spend their time on the hotel property.
 
Here are 10 geofencing tactics that hospitality companies can add to their personalization strategy:
 
1. Automated check-in and check-out
 
Hotels can offer guests the option to check-in on their mobile phones when they land or as they are approaching the property. By geofencing the airport or the hotel parking lot, the hotel or travel app can send a location-based push notification with a mobile deep link to the check-in page or the app can automatically pull up the check-in page. Upon checking in, guest receive their room number and instructions on where to pick up their room keys, such as the Express check-in desk.
 
When checking out, guests can approve the summary of charges for their room via mobile and confirm check-out. Sending guests off with a departing message as they exit the property, such as “Hope you enjoyed your stay, John. Come visit us again soon,” adds a personal finishing touch.
 
2. Reward loyalty program members
 
Hoteliers can also segment location-based notifications or offers based on hotel rewards or guest loyalty programs. For example, gold members can receive an offer to book discounted tickets to tonight’s show. Platinum members can be rewarded with a later check-out time or be shown booking specials for future dates.
 
3. Monitor social media posts sent from property
 
Hospitality chains are also geofencing their properties as a way to listen in to customers’ conversions during their stay. Marriott has a digital team that monitors social media posts from Marriott properties and looks for opportunities to increase brand presence and awareness and delight guests. A couple tweeting about their engagement may receive a room upgrade or a guest posting about a birthday celebration would get a dessert delivered to her table.
 
Geofencing setting up a virtual perimeter around their property allows for the team to capture conversions without a hashtag.
 
This strategy has helped boost Marriott’s social presence. According to Mobile Marketer, 82% follow the brand back, post about their travel experience again, or specifically mention Marriott.
 
4. Promote restaurant services
 
Why not drive foot traffic to the onsite restaurant with perfectly timed promos? Offers such as “Happy Hour 5-7pm, 2-for-1 drinks” can be sent to guests who are still at the property during that time. If there is a convention taking place on site, hoteliers can set the geofence to only be active during hours that fit with the break times.
 
5. Room service
 
When a guest arrives at their room, prompt them with a message like “How can we serve you?” They can order room service, book a massage or schedule a spa appointment all from their mobile phones.
 
Geofencing can also help you anticipate your guests’ needs. By setting a geofence to be active only during dinner time, a hotel can send a push notification with today’s specials to guests who are in their rooms.
 
6. Pool-side ordering
 
Guests lounging by the pool can automatically receive a pool-side menu upon arrival. They can order a cocktail and pay directly on their phone or choose to bill their room. Poolside waiters will be able to see their loyalty status and greet them by name.
 
7. Manage hospitality workforce
 
It’s important to staff areas of the property where guests will need personalized services. By geofencing each section of a resort to measure foot traffic, management will know where and when to schedule employees. A larger geofence can also outline the perimeter of the property to automate timesheet management.
 
8. Measure how guests spend their time at property
 
Which areas do guests spend the most time? Does dwell time affect average spend per guest? These questions can be easily answered by setting precise geofences around each area of your property and analyzing dwell times. Bluedot provides the ability to create polygonal geofences which can encompass areas of different shapes and sizes. Hoteliers can use these insights to develop a more intelligent environment to service their guests.
 
9. Tourist attractions
 
The beauty of geofencing is that it can extend beyond any resort’s physical location. By setting geofences around popular tourist attractions or key points of interest, a hotel or travel app can offer mobile coupons and track offline attribution. Apps can set the geofences to trigger recommendations based on each individual’s search history.
 
10. Prompt reviews
 
Encourage guests to leave a review of their experience upon checking out of the hotel. Simply enable the “check-out” feature on the Bluedot zone to open up the review page for your property on any major review site.
 
With the ease of integration of Bluedot’s location services, hoteliers can incorporate geofencing to bolster their mobile and personalization strategy. As the hospitality industry continues to adopt location services, the hotel environment will become smarter and create dynamic experiences tailored for each guest.

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GROWING YOUR BUSINESS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
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​‘Social media is here. It’s not going away; not a passing fad. Be where your customers are: in social media.’
Lori Ruff, Brand, Social & Communications Strategist
 
3-billiion people worldwide use social media. That is 3-billion people who could hear your message and engage with you. The potential is huge and yet there are still businesses resisting social media, with reasons cited including lack of time, insufficient resources and lack of know-how. Hmm... In our opinion this is an area where time needs to made, resources found and know-how either developed or tapped into through an external agency. 
 
You may not like it (or indeed get it), but the use of social media is only going to grow. Ignore it, and you may well see your business diminish in direct correspondence. Still not convinced? Well, some persuasive facts have emerged in recent times, including:

• More people are said to follow brands than celebrities, meaning social media can help you to engage with as much as half the world’s population 
• Over half of all Instagram users claim that they discover brands, products and services via the platform 

• Positive word-of-mouth through social media shared results in between 20-50 percent purchasing decisions 

 
And there are many more reasons why you should be embracing social media for business. A generator for ideas, an observatory for trends and for having a nosey into what your competitors are up to, it is also the most cost-effective way of marketing and advertising. 
 
So if you are still actively resisting social media then we urge you to take a deep breath and dive in. Here at Rocket Sky we can act as your buoyancy aid. Come and chat to us here